Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT)

AMAT has been very flat for quite some time now. Management has been busy cleaning house of products that have been dragging them down. Their recent acquisition of Baccini has enabled AMAT to expand their Solar Energy Sector into a State-of-the-Art division ready to distribute the latest technology available of a much needed product....world-wide. Financially, AMAT is absolutely sound! I believe they are way ahead of the competition in this area. With being well established world-widwe, the recession here in the U.S. will if anything only slow them a bit. Their debt is very manageable. Their P/E ratio has been sound for years. I believe were looking at a good buy at a 52 week low of a company that is getting ready to awake from a deep sleep.

They manufacture equipment which helps make solar cells that are over 5 square meters in size. These bigger solar cells can be used for large solar power installations. Solar will be less than 10% of their revenue in 2008, however by 2010 their CEO is projecting revenues of $2.5 - $3.5B (20-25% of revenues).

Most "clean" energy companies should be a good bet. This one has a track record of R & D and has a head start on the competition. It may take several years, but this one will be a winner

Applied Materials has moved into the Solar energy business. This will grow to be a large industry in the next 10 years, especially with the latest advances in photovoltaic efficiency shown in South Africa. Volume production will lower costs to a point where average homeowners can see the merits of installing a system.

As an employee with no more insider information than what is available on the street it does not take a genious to see that Applied's move into the Solar Panel market is going to create hugh growth opportunites for the company.

Great financials, great P/E (a bargain), great company in a great industry.

This is a long term play, buying stock at a discount - short term it might move sideways and perhaps even down a bit (basing on the slow growth of Money Flow), but it means there is no hype and no euphoria built into the price, which is a good thing.

New orders are down, profits are down. Net sales have decreased dramatcally (28% by estimate). While Solar and LCD sales are up, they don't fully compensate for the down turn in the core business. I see a lackluster 4thQ and 2009 for them.

Wide, diverse set of products, economies of scale, relatively new entry into services, lots of cash,

Strong tech development

Excellent management.
Huge market share in semiconductor manufacturing equipment business.
Excellent moat: very good world-wide customer support network, great reputation, good patent protection.
This company currently pays a 1.1% dividend.
Negative: the business is cyclical so a tolerance for price fluctuations is required; however AMAT has a wonderful record of surviviing and growing thru these cycles.

I am convinced that batteries and solar are the big winners over the long term. New tech, heavy investment and larger markets are just starting or have really begun to expand. Hence, I am super sure that these stocks will outperform over the next few years.

In the late 1800's there was a Gold Rush in Alaska. Men from all corners of the US dropped their things, left their families, and sold their belongings, all for the pursuit of Gold.

A lucky few struck it big, finding massive deposits of Gold. However, most endured freezing temperatures, vicious territorial fights, and even animal attacks only to find nothing but a few worthless garnets and stones.

The thing all of these men had in common is that they bought their supplies from outfitters in Seattle, on their way to the the Great White North.

What's the point of this drawn out (and perhaps far too long) anectote? Ironically, it was these outfitters and suppliers that really struck it rich during the Alaskan gold rush, not the minners. At the demand of the miners, these outfitters sold rations, equipment, and clothing to the miners hand over fist, creating huge revenues and healthy profits.

What's the connection to Applied Materials? Well, we have a 'black gold rush' on our hands here. Not the oil variey, we're talking about photovoltaic cells. And Applied Materials is the one of the top outfitters selling equipment to the miners, or in today's case, solar cell manufacturers.

Applied Materials is selling the required equipment to manufacture solar cells (with little competition, I might add), and will reap the gold of the PV boom.

Buy! Buy! Buy!

This is a very well run company that generates a ton of cash. The semiconductor market will continue to grow, and AMAT will also see growth from flat panel and solar. An excellent long-term play.

sitting on the 500 day MA - see if holds before buying partial position - company diversifying away from pure semi industry into silicon for solar and flat panel displays - future looks bright, but has a lot of work to do to shed semi label

great solar play

Largest in its space. Offers fully integrated chip production foundry, with leading research arm that allows it to work with chip producers to design chips that its processes can create. Move into flat-screen and. solar technologies should not only be growth areas but also help to stabilize earnings through the highs and troughs of chip cycle.

Recovery will be lead by key tech companies.

confidence problem, middle management cutting indians to placate chiefs

Good bet for the future with semi conductor market; also good bet for those interested in companies trying to take advantage of getting into renewable energy resources (solar).